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The Jagermeister Tour Leads This Week's Concert Picks

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J...germeister Tour at House of Blues on Saturday, December 20

You know Hinder, the headliners of this year's J...germeister Tour. Or at least you've heard Hinder on the radio. Probably a lot. You've maybe even seen their picture. They're that band from Oklahoma that wants to be Motley CrŸe and had a girl with prominent, um, assets on the cover of their 2005 debut, Extreme Behavior. They're that band whose new single "Use Me," from the new record Take It To the Limit, has been in radio rotation since July and goes "She's kind of cold, but she's hot on the outside/Last night got nasty and I'm still kind of tongue tied … I hate to say it, but she brings out my sick side." They're that band whose brand new single, "Without You," reveals their "sensitive side" and makes you feel sorry for the woman frontman Austin Winkler is singing about. Hinder takes their machismo to the stage with frenetic, show-off-y performances and girls in lingerie. Plus, they're actually going to tour with Motley CrŸe next year, so they probably have a lot of choreographed moves to practice at this show, where they are playing with Trapt - a band that plays catchier songs than Hinder and don't look like they're trying so hard while doing it. Rev Theory and Backbone start things off at 7:30 p.m. at House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., 216.523.2583). Tickets: $25. - Emily Zemler

Blue Oyster Cult

Blue ïyster Cult has definitely hit a full career cycle, moving from sleek, obscure and powerful hard-rock phenoms to hard-pop superstars to reflective metal elder statesmen to classy hard-rock oldies act. And yet it only took Christopher Walken and Will Ferrell a matter of five minutes to transform BOC from a successful hard-rock franchise into a Saturday Night Live catchphrase: "More cowbell!" Of course, it will be enthralling if BOC dips into its still-brilliant eponymous 1972 debut, its powerful sophomore follow-up Tyranny and Mutation or 1974's still-chilling Secret Treaties. But when the time comes (and given the song's theme, its time is inevitable), be sure to pay special attention to see if Blue ïyster Cult will honor its faux SNL producer's request and pump up the cowbell on "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." Of course, we all know that the song's cowbell was meant as a subtle device to suggest the relentless tick of the clock on our march to oblivion, but it's a funny bit anyway. The Tom Fuller Band opens at 8:30 p.m. at House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., 216.523.2583). Tickets: $25. - Brian Baker

Troubadours of Divine Bliss

It would be easy to mistake the Troubadours of Divine Bliss for a way-too-precious novelty band. Most of the superficial signs point that way, including the band's very name, as well as the adorable monikers the vocalizing duo of guitarist Aim Me Smiley and accordionist Renee Ananda go by. But the pair, who met in church in Kentucky as kids (both come from Pentecostal backgrounds) and have played together as a touring/recording duo for more than a decade, have some serious musical roots (country, folk, gospel, blues, old-time, Tin Pan Alley pop, Dixieland, Latin), as well as some serious things to say about politics, religion, personal growth, friendship and fatherhood, among other things. Starting as street performers, Smiley and Ananda have continued in that spirit, playing a lot of unusual venues, including "laundromats, organic farm conventions, rainbow gatherings, health food stores, air shows, block parties, yoga classes on the radio…" In Cleveland, where they've been frequent visitors, they've mostly played obscure, offbeat clubs. This time around, they play Brothers Lounge (11609 Detroit Ave., 216.226.2767) at 9 p.m. - Anastasia Pantsios

Jewltide Hanukkah

Christmas concerts are a dime a dozen. But a Hanukkah bash? Now that's a little harder to find. Leave it to JDub Records, the imprint famous for launching the career of Hasidic rapper Matisyahu, to come up with the concept of a "Jewltide" Hanukkah party. According to a press release, the bash will feature "dreidel competitions, chocolate gelt and lots of goodies." Sounds like fun, even for Christians. Spanish indie-rockers DeLeon, hot off a tour with Latin jammers Ozomatli, are scheduled to perform alongside the Sway Machinery, a supergroup of sorts that features members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Balkan Beat Box, Antibalas and Arcade Fire. Festivities start at 8 p.m. at the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., 216.321.5588). The $8 ticket includes a free JDub mix CD. - Jeff Niesel

One Under

Formed in Columbus in 2005, One Under began when longtime friends Mike Iannicello (guitar) and Johnny Polansky (percussion) came together after several false starts as they separately gravitated from project to project. In One Under, they found a musical blend where they could use their various influences, which range from Afro-Cuban to jazz, blues and funk, and an array of other things in between. This eclecticism clearly stems from the musicians' individuality, which somehow gels in spite of their diverse musical backgrounds. Though their sound fits well in the jam-band scene, they don't necessarily sound like most groups in that genre. Their original songs are mostly written by Iannicello and Ed McGee, who bring different flavors into the mix with their various styles. McGee grew up with his South African-born father's Zulu tunes and his mother's gospel music, later honing his lyric-writing skills as a poetry student at Ohio State University. Iannicello, on the other hand, comes from a jazz and theater background (he performed for years in the orchestra pit at Broadway shows). The band is rounded out by Nat Reeb, who joined the band in 2007 after having played with several other local groups. One Under is tight live; Reeb and Polansky provide a highly competent rhythm section for the two guitarists, who don't have try to outshine each other during jams. McGee sounds content strumming his guitar, while Iannicello handles the more complex stuff with his accomplished technique. The show starts at 9 p.m. at the Winchester (12112 Madison Ave., 216.226.5681). Tickets: $10. - Ernest Barteldes

Ugly Radio Rebellion

Ike Willis was Frank Zappa's guitarist and right-hand man for a decade and a half when he made a promise to Zappa just prior to the legend's passing in 1993. Willis vowed to keep Zappa's music alive for subsequent generations - an oath he's kept through his work with Zappa cover bands like New Jersey's Project/Object and Italy's Ossi Duri, as well as his own Zappa-inflected music. The next phase of Willis' career has found him moving in both directions at once through a new affiliation with Detroit's Ugly Radio Rebellion. Willis accompanies the Zappa cover band on a deep and diverse set list put together by URR frontman/guitarist Scott Schroen. Going forward, URR will also serve as Willis' backing band on his original music in a configuration known for the time being as the Ike Willis Project. In an interesting twist, this Detroit line-up has remained intact after Schroen relocated to Atlanta, but he's now in the process of putting together a second URR there. Eventually, the plan is to offer both URR and the Ike Willis Project in tandem, playing a combination of Zappa covers and Willis originals. For now, you can check out Ugly Radio Rebellion when they return to the Winchester (12112 Madison Ave., 216.226.5681) at 9 tonight, playing the day before what would have been Zappa's birthday. Tickets: $15. - Baker

Gypsy Relic

Two years after coming straight outta Chesterland, the jazz/funk/rock groovathon that is Gypsy Relic rolls on with the same passion and verve that has marked the decade-long endeavors of playing/songwriting partners Dann Jasko and Brad Thompson. Jasko's tremulous vocals suggest Eddie Vedder with a more believably sincere vulnerable streak or the rambling power of Tom Petty (depending on the mood of the tune), and he plays guitar with folky deliberation, jazz precision and rock abandon. Meanwhile, Thompson provides a sinewy and slippery bass foundation, perfectly complemented by drummer Chris Szuch's intuitively swinging rhythmatism. The big news in Relicland is that the trio's date at Wilbert's (812 Huron Rd. E., 216.902.4663) is a tune-up for a House of Blues appearance in February that will double as a much-anticipated CD release party celebrating the fruits of their yearlong recording/mastering/gigging efforts. There are few local bands with the dynamic range and the art and soul of Gypsy Relic, and there's no better way to experience their power and diversity than watching them tear up a stage. The group opens for Boogie Matrix Mechanism at 8 p.m. Tickets: $6. - Baker